Indicator for clocks or watches.



A; E. AESCHLIMANN. INDICATOR FOR ULCKS OR WATCHES:

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 2,1908.

904,291. Patented Nos/.17, 1908.

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APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2,1908.

Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADOLPH E. AESGHLIMANN, OF TAYLOR, TEXAS.

INDICATOR FOR CLOCKS OR WATCHES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADOLPH E. AnsoHLI- MANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Taylor, in the cotuity of Tilliamson and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indicators for Clocks or lVatches; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in indicators for clocks or watches and it is the primary object of the invention to provide a novel device of this character wherein a signal will be displayed automatically when it is necessary that the motor of the clock be rewound, it being well to state, it is thought, that the invention is intended for suoli clocks that employ either weight or spring motors.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel device of this character employing a rotary member actuated by the main shaft of the clock works, said rotary member operating at the proper time a swingingly operated signal.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel device of this character wherein the swingingly mounted signal drops a predetermined distance when the rotary member has assumed a certain position.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel device of this character includl ing a rotary member suitably operated, said rotary member being provided with a spiral, said spiral being adapted to impart movement to the swingingly mounted member.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a novel device of this character which will be simple in construction, eflicient and advantageous in practice and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Vith the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the details of construction and in the novel arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more particularly referred to.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in which,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led June 2, 1908.

Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

Serial No. 436,246.

Figure l is a view in front elevation partly broken away of a clock illustrating the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary end view of a clock works illustrating the invention attached thereto. Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1l illustrating a modilied form of invention` Fig. l is a sectional view taken on the line -l-d of Fig. l. Fig. 5 is a detail view in perspective of the indicator or pointer used in the modified form of invention.

In the drawings l denotes the dial of a clock having therein an elongated opening 2, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l. The shaft 3 of the main wheel a projects beyond the side of the clock work frame 5, and this projected portion has fixed thereon the pinion 6 which is in mesh with the enlaro'ed pinion 7, suitably mounted on a stub shaft S projecting from the side of the frame 5, adjacent the dial l. The relation of the small pinion G with the large pinion 7 is that the large pinion will be caused to make approximately one complete revolution with the unwinding of the spring 9 of the main wheel Ll.

From a point adjacent its center is arranged on the outer face of the gear 7 a spiral flange l0, which terminates in the concentric portion 11, said concentric portion being approximately semi-circular. At a predetermined distance from the free end of the concentric portion 11 and arranged within the same circle is a lug 12, having anchored thereto the end of a Hat spring 13, which has its free end portion resting on approximately the junction of the spiral IO with the concentric portion Il.

IVhile it has been stated that the gear wheel 7 is mounted on a stub shaft S, it is believed well to state that said shaft is in fact mounted in a frame 14 suitably affixed to the clock frame, said frame being provided with an approximately vertically disposed U- shaped arm 15 for supporting the outer end of the shaft 8. The frame le is also proi vided with an outwardly projecting arm 16,

terminating in a nger 17 bent at right angles thereto. The free end of the linger 17 is provided with a lip 18, to which is pivoted through the medium of the pin 19 an arm 20. This arm 2O extends across the gear wheel 7 and almost entirely across the frame 5 of the clock works and terminates in a looped portion 21, which loosely surrounds a guiding strap 22, suitably secured to the frame 5. This guiding strap 22 is intended to hold the arm 20 against undue lateral movement so that it will in no way interfere with the operation of the clock.

That portion of the arm that would extend across the end of the shaft S is bent upwardly in a segment as at 23 and the central portion of this segment is provided with an inturned lug 24, which is intended to rest on the iiange of the gear wheel 7.

Then the shaft 3 is turned to wind the spring 9 it moves in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, and when the spring 9 is in a condition to be rewound the lug 24 rests on the spiral portion 1G of the flange. lith the continued movement of the shaft 3 said lug will ride on the spiral ange 10 and pass beneath the spring 13 when it will engage the concentric portion of the flange 10. Then the spring is properly wound the lug 24 will be located adjacent the free end of the concentric portion 11 of the flange.

When the clock is operating the wheel will rotate in an opposite direction, as is thought to be obvious. YVhen the lug 24 reaches the spiral portion 10 of the flange it will be engaged by the spring 13, and when it is about time for the spring 9 to be again rewound the free end, or the anchored end ofthe spring 13 will have'reached the lug 24 and as this free end passes beneath the lug 24 it will permit the arm 20 to drop, said movement of the arm being limited by the lug 24 contacting with the spiral portion 10 of the flange. This movement of the arm will bring in register with the opening 2 of the dial 1 an indication marked finding time on the face of a plate 25 properly secured to the arm 20.

This will give proper notice to a person glancing at the clock that it is necessary to rewind the spring'.

It may be well to state that when the lug 24 is engaging the concentric portion of the flange the plate 25 presents to the opening 2 the indication Stop winding. Although not essential it has been found well to also place on the plate 25 an indication Half way to give notice that the spring 9 is about half wound or unwound. This indication is brought in register with the opening 2 by providing the concentric portion 11 of the flange, approximately centrally of said concentric portion, with a depending segmental depression 26, as is shown in F ig. 1.

. While the arm 20 may drop as desired by gravity it has been found best to make such movement positive by anchoring a spring 27 at one end to the frame 5 of the clock works and having the opposite or free end of the spring 27 bear against the upper edge of the arm 20 adjacent its pivot pin 19.

1n Fig. 3 is shown a slightly modified form of invention. 1n this form of invention a pointer is employed for properly indicating the condition of the spring in lieu of the plate 25, hereinbefore referred to. 1n this form of invention the large gear 28 is operated by the small gear 29 fixed on the projected end of the shaft 30 of the main wheel. The outer face of the large gear 2S is provided with the spiral groove 31, on which rests the lug 32 carried by the swingingly mounted arm 33.

The free end of the portion of the arm 33 has pivoted thereto an end of an upstanding lever 34 having one edge face thereof toothed as at 35. This toothed edge of the lever 34 is adapted to mesh with a gear 36 formed or carried by the under edge of the sleeve 37 of the indicator or pointer 3S. The sleeve 37 loosely 'embraces the sleeve of the hour hand. The toothed edge 35 of the lever 34 is held in engagement with thev gear 36 by the flat spring 39, anchored at its lower end to the arm 33, its free end portion bearing against the lever 34 as shown in Fig. 3.

Then the shaft 30 is turned to wind the spring of the clock it will cause the gear 28 to move in such a direction as to have the outer end of the spiral beneath the lug 32 and the movement of the arm 33, incidental to the lug 32 obtaining this position, will, through the connection of the lever 34 and the gear 36, cause the pointer or indicator 3S to rest above the indication Clock wound up marked adjacent the periphery of the dial.

As the clock is in operation the movement will be reversed and when the spring is almost entirely unwound the lug 32 will be adjacent the inner end of the spiral 31, and when in this position the indicator 38 will have moved around until it has reached the indication Clock run down, also marked on the dial of the clock adjacent its periphery.

I claim:

1. In combination with the shaft of the main wheel of a clock, a gear mounted therebeneath, a pinion on the main shaft meshed with the gear, an arm pivotally secured to one end extending across the gear, an indicating means operated by the arm, a spiral carried by the gear and a lug projecting inwardly from the upper edge of thearm engaging the spiral.

2. 1n combination with the shaft of the main wheel of a clock, a gear mounted therebeneath, a pinion on the main .shaft meshed with the gear, an arm pivotally secured at one end extending across the gear, an indicating means operated by the arm and spirally disposed means carried by the gear acting in conjunction with the arm for operating the same and means for obstructing the travel in the spiral in one direction.

3. 1n combination with the shaft of the main Wheel of a clock, a gear mounted there In testimony whereof I have signed my 10 beneath, a pinion on the main shaft meshed name to this specicatlon 1n the presence of with the gear, an arm pivotally secured at tWo subscribing Witnesses.

one end extend'mo across the O'ear an indieating means opeiated by the tarm and sp- ADOLPH E' AESCHIMANN' rally disposed means carried by the gear act- Witnesses: mg 1n congunetlon With the arm for operat- JOHN F. SGHRIEVER, mg the same and spring means for obstruot- F. I. FISHER.

ing the travel in the spiral in one direction. 

